Drier for printing presses



Sept. 18,1923. 1,468g289 A. J. ESCHENBACH DRIER FOR PRINTING PRESSES Filed March 21, 1921 Fig 0 j a 4M;- ATTORNEY v I magi 226261 Fatented Sept. 18, 1923.

ANTHONY J. ESCHENBACH, OF CINCINNATI, OHIO.

DRIER FOR PRINTING IBESSES.

Application filed March 21, 1921. Serial No. 454,083.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ANTHONY J. EscHEN- BACH, a citizen of the United States, residing at Cincinnati, in the county of Hamilton and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Driers for Printing Presses, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to printing presses and attachments therefor; and its object is to save time and avoid smudging and off-' setting in the production of printed matter. Further objects are to minimize the fire risk, and to obviate overheating of the press parts,

especially the inking rollers, and to economize in the fuel or energy supplied to the heater. Other objects will appear in the course of the ensuing description.

I attain these'objects by the device illustrated, for example, in the accompanying drawing, in which Figure 1 is a general perspective view of part of a swinging-platen or job press, together with a well known feeding mechanismtherefor, with which my invention is shown as being installed and operated;

Fig. 2 is a partial rear view of the same, showing a modified controlling device for the heater; and

'Fig. 3 is a side elevation of a similar press, parts of which are omitted for clearness, together with parts of the feeder, equipped with my invention, and showing another modification of the regulator, and a somewhat different arrangement of the fuel-sup- P P P The mechanism to which my invention is applied, in the example hereof, comprises a well known job press and a self-acting feeding device installed thereon, in conjunction ,with which my invention is installed and op crates, but which, in themselves, are not of my invention. It is to this or similar equipments that my invention is especially applicable; although it is not necessarily limit-.

a suitable frame 1, partly shown, supporting the inking device 2 at the rear top, and therebelow, forwardly, the form 3, with suitably actuated inking rollers 4 to distribute the ink from the device 2 to the form 3 between impressions of the swinging platen 5 suitably articulated to the frame 1 (Fig. 3.) These parts are made to-coact by means of the geared crank 6 and side arm 7 (Fig. 1.) The automatic feeder comprises a frame 8 mounted on the front part of the press, with a lower table 9 holding the unprinted sheets 10 and an upper table 11 receiving the print ed sheets 12. A pneumatic device 13 picks up the unprinted sheets 10 and places them on the platen 5 when it is swung forwardly, just as the preceding printed sheet 12 is picked therefrom by grippers 14, shown in position for this by dotted lines in Fig. 3; the res ctive motions of these parts being simp y indicated by dark and light large arrows, respectively, in Fig. 3. The pneumatic device 13 is energized by means of a small pump 15 inside the lower front part of the press frame, driven by a crank 16 operatively connected to a part of the press-driving mechanism somewhat as indicated in Fig. 3; and the grippers 1 1 are also actuated by suitable operative mechanism, not shown, connected to the press-operating mechanism. The whole equipment is usually driven by a motor in a well known manner, which, likemany details of such an installation, are not particularly illustrated herein; it being suflicient to clearly indicate such parts thereof as are utilized in conjunction directly with my invention, which will now be described. in detail.

A bracket 17 is screwed to the top of the feeder frame 8 at one side, the right-hand side as here shown, extending up and having a clamp 18 on its top, rigidly supporting the fuel-supply pipe 19 that extends transversely from the right-hand side of the press into a hood 20 having triangular ends 21 and fiat sides 22 meeting at the top, preferably in a rounded ridge 23 about concentric to the heater burner 24- extending lengthwise inside this hood 20 from one end 21 to the other, connected to the pipe 19 at one end and having its other or left-hand end closed. Hubs 25 and 26 fitted to the casing ends 21 around the pipe 19 and burner 24, respectively, at right and left, support this hood 20 on the no pipe 19 and burner 24. The broad bottom of the hood 20 is open; and the burner 24 1s a tube with a row ofperforations 27 along its lower side. These parts are so arranged that this hood 20 opens down toward the upper table 11 of the self acting feeder, some distance thereabove; and fluid fuel, such as gas, escaping through the perforations with a suitable mixture ofair supplied in any convenient manner, as by the mixer 28, is burned in downwardly directed flames inside and under the .hood 20, which latter reflects most of the heat down onto the printed sheets 12 on the table 11.

The printed sheets 12 are carried from the platen 5 to the pile of sheets 12 on the table 11 by the grippers 14, under this heater, but not through or over any substantial proportion of the fire or flame therefrom. The drying of the ink on the sheet 12 begins during this passage, incidentally; but such drying is not relied upon acfording to my invention, as is the case in some devices heretofore provided. The essential drying operation takes place after the sheet 12 is placed on the pile on the table or receptacle 11, where it is exposed directly to the heat while the next sheet is being printed, and is exposed gradually less directly to this heat as one after the other of the succeeding printed sheets are deposited on the pile. Also, the superposed sheets 12 tend to retain the heat in the underlying sheets, which heat they receive in considerable proportion during the substantial interval of direct exposure each one has as just described. The result is a thorough drying of even the most heavily inked impressions on the sheets 12; and not merely a very small drying effect, or merely a dissipation of the static electrical charge of the sheet, which is the purpose or the extent of effect of a momentary exposure, in passage through a flame, as in prior devices just alluded to. This drying effect is further enhanced due to the heat being radiated directly onto the inked side of the sheet and not requiring to be conducted through the paper as where the sheet passes over the source of heat.

It will be understood that sources of heat other than gas or the like can be used with appropriate apparatus substituted for the burner 24; as for instance a steam pipe or an electric heater. I

Any of these may have suitable controlling means, corresponding to the gas-cock 29 (Fig. 1) or 29 (Fig. 3.) Such controlling means may have a regulator. For instance the cock 29 has a plug 30 that leaves a wider gas passage when pulled out, connected by a rod 31 to an arm 32 on a shaft 33 journaled in the feeder frame 8 and extending in over the .lower table 9, with an arm 34 hearing on the top of the table 9. The table 9 is slowly fed upward,

nism 36 acting thereon as driven by suitable connection to the feeder or press mechanism, to feed the table 9 upward as the sheets 11) are taken therefrom, so as to present the top-most sheet always at about the same distance from the pneumatic device 13. It

being understood that the press and feeder illustrated in Fig. 1 have some such device to thus elevate the table 9, it will be seen that as the table rises it pushes the plug 3 inward in the cock or valve 29, cutting down the supply of gas. Thus the intensity of the burning over the upper table or receptacle 11 is decreased as the height of the pile of sheets 12 increases and as the topmost sheet 12 of the pile must rest up closer to the heater. This construction thus assists in equalizing the heating of all of the printed sheets 12; so that the first ones are not inadequately heated on account of being too low, and the last ones are not ton much heated due to being too high.

In Fig. 2 this effect is accomplished by having the valveor cock 29' with a plug 30' having a threaded stem with a ratchet wheel 31 fixed thereon, and the stem being threaded through an arm 32' fixed to the bracket 17. A lever 33 slidably pivots on the plug 30', with a pawl 34 driving the wheel 31 as the lever is swung by the reciprocation of the jbgger 35, forcing the plug 30' inward toreduce the opening of the valve or cock 29. This jogger 35' is also part of the feeder mechanism, as usually constructed, to straighten the pile of sheets 12 on the table 9. In this case, each time a new pile of sheets is started, the valve 29 is reset by releasing the pawl 34 and screwing the plug 30 outward by its crank 36'; then allowing the pawl 34 to again be spring-pressed onto the wheel 31'.

The regulating device of Fig. 3 is similar to that of Fig. 1, but has its rod 32" directly connecting the table '9 to the cock 29" in a fuel-supply pipe 19 that extends down to the heater; the valve-plug 30 having its opening the more out of registry with the pipe opening as the table rises and turns the plug 20 by means of the arm'31" and the rod 32". The difference from Fig. 1 is merely incidental to the different pipe and valve arrangement: it being understood that these arrangements will vary under different conditions. and that numerous forms of valves or cocks may be employed, as is convenient, with appropriate connecting mechanism actuated by any convenient moving part of the press or feeder, depending largely upon the design of these machines in various instances.

Considerably reducing the .necessIty of such a regulating mechanism is the circumstance that, although the lowest sheets of the pile on the table 9 are initially heated less, being lower, they are heated longer than the upper sheets, by conduction from the upper ones. Thus equalization is inherent; and merely requires the aid of the regulation in some cases. It will be seen that such an equalization, whether specially provided for, or derived incident to the nature of the piling and heating operation only, allows economy in fuel, as well as decreases the vfire risk because the heater flames need not be so extensive asto require excessive fuel or to ignite the paper sheets passing under them. Also, because the heater is over, and not under, the passing sheets, the tendency of the flames is away from the sheets and up around the edges of the hood 20, which latter, however, effectively reflects the heat, as distinguished from dangerous flame, downto the sheets on the pile.

In any installation of my invention it is desirable, also in the interest of economy of fuel and safety from fire, to cause the gas supply to be shut off when the press is stopped. It some times happens that the press stops with a printed sheet 12 held by the grippers 13 midway between the platen 5 and the table 9, in its elevated position incident to this transfer; in which case it might be ignited by the heater. Even .if this does not occur, if the operator forgets to shut off the gas, it is wasted, while the press is stopped; and if he also forgets to remove the finished pile of sheets 12 then, the top sheet may be scorched, although this is of relatively small importance. All of this-is avoided by connecting a valve in the gas-supply system to the starting and stopping device of the press, nearly to close on stoppage, and preferably, to open on starting, without especial attention of the operator. As here shown, there is a separate valve 37 (Fig. 1) in the supply pipe 19 next to the valve or cook 29, with a lever or handle 38 to turn its rotary plug 39, connected by a spring 40 with the casing of the cook 29, to open the valve 37, and connected by a chain 41 to the starting and stopping lever 42 of the press at the lower right side thereof, so that as the lever is raised to stop the press it pulls the valve 37 almost shut against the spring action, and holds it thus until the lever 42 is again lowered to start the press. The arrangement is practically the same in Fig. 3, where the parts are seen in running positions; the slight difference in arrangement being merely incident to the upright position of the pipe 19". This view, in which the pipe and valves are in section, clearly shows what will be understood to be the substantial arrangement of parts in Fig. 1.

Under some condition, notably in very hot weather, the inking rollers 4, which are of special compositions easily so affected, may be somewhat softened by heat from the heater in my invention, or the ink thereon or in other parts of the inking device may be adversely affected thereby. I there fore provide for cooling these arts during the operation of the press. Vhere there is the pneumatically operated feeder, this is readily accomplished by taking some of the air under pressure from the pump 15 thereof, leading it through a. flexible tube 43 under the press and up the rear thereof and overthe rear top of the inking device, to discharge through a nozzle 44 mounted on the top part of the framework of the inking device of the press to discharge downwardly and forwardly over the rollers 4 while they are in their upper positions, and over the inkon'the inking device. Such a pump 15 acts by creating a partial vacuum in a chamber 45 of the pneumatic gripper-operating mechanism (Fig. 1) through a flexible tube 46; and its discharge end supplies an ample amount of air under slight pressure to blow through the nozzle 44 and cool the adjacent parts of the press.

With the press equipped with my invention substantially as described, with or without the regulating and controlling and cooling devices described, it' is possible to avoid any special precautions for drying the sheets separately. They are dried amply during the printing intervals between deposits of sheets, to avoid smudging or ofisetting, even with hard or highly glazed paper upon which half-tone and similar fine and heavily inked impressions are made, as has been found'in practice. Thus the printer is relieved of all care as to this; and can safely merely place new piles of unprinted sheets on the feeder and take away the printed ones, with assurance that the work will not be spoiled, and without waiting for dryin to pack and deliver the printed matter. These advantages will be realized also with hand-feeding or with any automatically fed press other than that exemplified herein, if the heater is provided to heat the sheets in the delivered pile, substantially under the conditions herein described. Thus modifications of my invention other than those herein set forth, are possible without sacrificing its advantages; and thesewill occur in practice incident to different associations therein.

Therefore, while many details are herein rather specifically shown and described in elucidating the construction and use of my invention, as is required, I do not wish to be understood as being limited to such precise showing and description, but having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In combination with means for printing sheets, a receptacle to receive the printed sheets from said means, and a carrier to carry the sheets from said means to said receptacle, a heater fixed over said receptacle above the path of the sheets carried by said carrier, to heat said sheets after said sheets are received by said receptacle and throughout the time of their occupancy thereof.

2. In combination with means for printing sheets, a receptacle to receive the printed sheets from said means, and a carrier to carry the sheets from said means to said receptacle, a heater remaining over said receptacle above the path of the sheets carried by said carrier, to heat said sheets after said sheets are received by said receptacle and throughout the time of their occupancy thereof.

3. In combination with a printing press and a receptacle to receive printed sheets from said press, a heater stationed over said receptacle to heat said printed sheets after said sheets are received by said receptacle and throughout the time of their occupancy thereof, and means to decrease the heating effect of said heater upon increase in the number of said sheets occupying said receptacle.

4. In combination with a printing device and a receptacle to receive printed sheets from said device, a heater stationed over said receptacle to heat said printed sheets after said sheets are received by said rereeaaee ceptacle and during their occupancy thereof, a holder to hold sheets to be fed to said printing device and means for moving said holder as the sheets are fed therefrom, and means actuated'by the movement of said holder to decrease the heating effect of said heater upon increase in the number of said sheets occupying said receptacle.

5. In combination with a printing device and a receptacle to receive printed sheets from said device, a heater stationed over said receptacle to heat said printed sheets after said sheets are received by said receptacle and during their occupancy thereof, an element moved in conjunction with the operation of said printing device, and means connected to said element, actuated by the movement thereof, to decrease the heating efiect of said heater upon increase in the number of said sheets occupying said receptacle.

6. In combination with a rinting press having a starting and stopping lever, and a receptacle to receive printed sheets from said press, a bracket mounted on'said press at one side of said receptacle, a gas-burner supported by said bracket and extending transversely over said receptacle, with downwardly directed gas-emitting orifices, a gaspipe leading to said burner through said bracket and forming the support for said burner on said bracket, a gas-cock interposed in said pipe, and an operative connection from said gascock to said lever, partly closing said gas-cock upon movement of said lever to stop said press.

ANTHONY J. ESCHENBACH. 

